Trump calls Israel, Hamas to finalise ceasefire, secure hostage release

US President Donald Trump has publicly called for Israel and Hamas to finalise a ceasefire agreement and ensure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

"Make the deal in Gaza. Get the hastages back!!! DJT,” Trump wrote in all-caps on Truth Social, Caliber.Az reports.

The plea comes amid the ongoing violence in Gaza. Currently, 50 hostages remain captive in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has launched extensive military operations that have caused widespread devastation among its roughly two million residents.

A US-brokered first-stage ceasefire agreement reached in January collapsed in March after negotiators failed to agree on a second stage, with Israel resuming its offensive.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on June 28 that he believes a ceasefire “could materialize within the next week.”

“I think it’s close,” Trump said. “I just spoke with some of the people involved. It’s a terrible situation.”

By Sabina Mammadli